FOREST AND STREAM 
435 
HUNTERS HAVE GOOD LUCK ON OPEN¬ 
ING DAY. 
Chickens are ripe in North Dakota. Labor Day 
any number of hunting parties were in the field 
making the most of the holiday, and most of them 
had fair success, to judge by the trophies they 
displayed upon their return. So many members 
of the Unions were trying their luck that not 
enough remained to make a healthy parade which 
was accordingly called off. 
That the North Dakota Game board and the 
wardens are taking the matter of enforcement of 
the law rather seriously is indicated by the fact 
that during the past month there were 44 con¬ 
victions in the state. One or two were for illegal 
fishing, a few for training dogs too early, but 
the large majority were of “s'ooners,” men who 
wished to take advantage of the real sportsmen 
and shoot while the killing was easy and good 
marksmanship was not an essential requisite. In 
one or two cases the offenders began to shoot tiny 
half-grown chickens as early as the first of 
August. 
The enforcement of the game laws has stimu¬ 
lated the demand for hunting licenses. Hunters 
now conclude it is safer to purchase licenses and 
be on the safe side, than to take a chance of 
evading the wardens. There are several hundred 
local specials over the state, many of whom are 
not known to have an appointment, and these 
men are likely to nab the fellows who go afield 
without licenses or who exceed the bag limit. 
The game law is very explicit in requiring 
those in possession of game to have a license. 
Many traveling men, who never shoot, purchase 
licenses so they can bring back birds that their 
friends give them on trips. Any person carrying 
game on the train or on the streets without be¬ 
ing a license holder is likely to be prosecuted 
and the fine is $10 for each bird. 
FISH AND GAME PROTECTORS OF FAIR- 
FIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT, GIVEN 
INSTRUCTIONS. 
The special protectors and deputy game ward¬ 
ens of Fairfield County responded to an invita¬ 
tion from County Warden Wilbur F. Smith to 
come to South Norwalk for a conference and 
dinner. 
To the number of twenty-four they came fiom 
the far corners of the county, and when assem¬ 
bled together proved a fine looking lot of men, 
who will compare favorably with any similar 
body elsewhere. Through the courtesy of the 
public library board of directors, Mr. Smith was 
enabled to take the men to the auditorium of the 
library, where 'the collections of birds to the num¬ 
ber of 160, gave him an opportunity to give the 
men instructions regarding the protected and 
game birds, and to show them the birds of the 
snipe family, where there is a difference between 
the state and Federal laws. 
Some of the birds classed as game birds are 
so rare or seen on the coast wholly, that many 
of the men had not had an opportunity before of 
knowing them, save from the books, and the 
opportunity to see the birds was much appreciated 
and proves the worth of the collection, not only 
to the town but to the county. Each of the 
protectors was presented with a picture of the 
library and through the courtesy of T. Gilbert 
Pearson, of the National Audubon Society, were 
given forty pages of reading with many colored 
pictures relative to the birds needing protection, 
and an attractive booklet on “How to Attract 
Beneficial Birds About the Home.” 
After visiting the new drawbridge, the men 
repaired to Roton Point, where a fine dinner was 
awaiting them at the hotel. 
William Mollen, of Bridgeport, president of 
the Commission of Fish and Game, was present 
and gave the protectors a fine talk on the dignity 
of the office, and showed them how the state 
commission and the wardens were working for 
the preservation of the wild life of the state, and 
expressed himself as well pleased with the fine 
appearance of the gathered men. 
Norman C. Beer, prosecuting attorney, of Dan¬ 
bury, and a lawyer, who is probably better posted 
than any other in the county on the legal aspect 
of the game laws and their application, was also 
a guest, and gave the men much valuable advise 
and instruction. 
Mr. Smith was also a speaker, and the key¬ 
note of all speeches was a high ideal of service, 
to prevent, by kindly warnings, violations of the 
laws by the thoughtless or ignorant, and to use 
every effort to bring the willful violator of the 
laws to justice. Gathered thus together, they 
were made to feel that they were a part of the 
great army all over the country who are work¬ 
ing to save a portion of the wild life of the 
country for posterity. 
If there were more wardens like Mr. Smith, 
conditions would be different all over the coun¬ 
try. The commissioners say Mr. Smith is the 
best warden in the state; why shouldn't he be? 
He goes at things in the right way and instructs 
bis protectors how to work. How many war¬ 
dens would invite their protectors to a dinner 
and pay car-fares out of their own pockets? 
Not many. It shows his heart and soul are in 
the work. The reports from all the protectors 
were encouraging for a good crop of birds this 
fall. Quail are exceptionally plentiful, also par¬ 
tridge, which shows the laws are giving the 
birds a fair chance. 
Sidney Wilkins, the Special Protector for 
Danbury, made one of the best arrests that has 
been made in this section in a long time. He 
had quite a few complaints from New Fairfield, 
an adjoining town, and went to investigate, and 
found it was from a lumber camp, and told the 
boss of the job to warn the others, which he 
did, but they did not heed his warning and went 
out with their guns. Wilkins had two other dep¬ 
uties with him, and they waited for develop¬ 
ments. They did not have to wait long when 
they heard a shot right near them and saw a 
partridge fall; they waited until the three came 
out of the woods and caught them with the 
goods. There were three of them and they were 
fined $45 apiece, which ought to be a lesson to 
ethers who are violators of the game laws. 
E. H. BAILEY. 
PENNSYLVANIA FIELD TRIAL. 
The Pennsylvania Field Trial Club, an organi¬ 
zation with headquarters in Pittsburgh, will run 
its third annual field trial for bird dogs at Car¬ 
michaels, Pa., starting October 20, 1914. The 
competition of high-born pointers and setters in 
the field under hunting conditions, a sport now 
largely enjoyed in the Southern states, has been 
growing more popular every year in Pennsyl¬ 
vania until this year the Pennsylvania club in¬ 
tends running a trial which will rank in im¬ 
portance with any trial in the United States. 
The historic field trial grounds at Carmichaels, 
Pa., will be the scene of some of the most hotly 
Contested races which have ever been run in the 
North. All the best handlers and the “big cir¬ 
cuit” dogs will be here this year to contest in 
A Bunch of Griffon-Korthals, Bred by Louis Thebaud. 
